Covid vaccine Cairns: Employers share their views on the jab
A major Far North business is considering making Covid vaccinations mandatory for frontline workers in a bid to get the region reopened. SEE WHERE YOUR EMPLOYER STANDS
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A MAJOR Cairns tourism operator is developing a policy that will potentially require all frontline workers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Experience Co chief executive officer John O’Sullivan said the impact of the virus and associated border closures and lockdowns had been substantial for the tourism industry.
“As we have heard many times from the healthcare experts, the way out of this constant disruption is vaccination,” he said.
“As a result, we are reviewing the way we operate and what we require of our workforce as we ramp up our Great Barrier Reef and Skydive operations”.
Mr O’Sullivan said safety was at the heart of the company’s values and the priority was to provide a safe workplace environment for all workers, including employees and contractors, as well as customers.
“As such, we are currently consulting with advisers and our workforce on a policy that would require all frontline roles within Australia at Experience Co to be doubly vaccinated. This would apply to all employees and contractors,” he said.
“We expect to have this finalised in the next few weeks.
“We also believe that the Queensland Government needs to institute a Public Health Order covering the tourism industry that requires any customer-facing role to be doubly vaccinated.
“It is an approach that is currently being considered in other states and we believe that for Cairns this is a critical policy that needs addressing.”
A number of companies including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Alliance Airlines and SPC have so far mandated vaccines for frontline workers.
All workers in residential aged care facilities must also be fully vaccinated by October 31.
The Cairns Post has contacted some of the region’s other major employers and organisations to find out their stance on vaccinations for employees.
Chamber of Commerce
As the region’s key business lobby, the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that 98 per cent of businesses in the area are small business and those facing the biggest challenges due to lockdown and a drop in tourist numbers.
Cairns Chamber of Commerce chief executive Patricia O’Neill said employers small and large were in a complicated position as the reopening of borders and the economy hinged on getting double-shot vaccinations nationally up to 80 per cent.
“We are stating as a chamber the only pathway out of the current restrictions is by an increase to the vaccination rate,” she said.
“We are not mandating that businesses insist their employees go and get vaccinated but we are saying it’s the only pathway out.”
She said the chamber was in discussions about rapid antigen testing
“We are asking the federal government to immediately roll it out and have it accessible so all businesses are permitted to open even under a lockdown,” Mrs O’Neill said.
“If the federal government can move swiftly to introduce rapid antigen testing it would help.
“Cairns is like a ghost town as we cannot get access to customers south of the Queensland border and even people from Brisbane are worried about being caught in lockdown out of their part of the state.”
Alive Pharmacy Warehouse
Co-owner and director Nick Loukas said employees of the seven-store chain were all aware of the importance of vaccination.
“All of our staff understand the importance of working in health and being fully vaccinated,” he said. “We are also seeing a lot of support from employers offering staff the vaccination and bring in groups of employees.
“If people are unsure I advise talking to your health professional, your GP or pharmacist, do not be a keyboard warrior, you need to get the right information, because if we don’t get our vaccination rate above 80 per cent then our economy will be major affected and a lot of business are already really hurting.”
Bunnings
Marg Walford, the regional operations manager in Queensland, said the hardware giant was encouraging its employees to roll up their sleeve by providing paid leave to do so.
“Since the outset of COVID-19, the welfare and care for our team, customers and community has been at the core of what we do,” she said.
“We will continue to follow the latest government health advice to help keep team and the community safe, including on vaccinations.
“In line with the Queensland public health advice, team member vaccinations are voluntary and we’re strongly encouraging our team to come forward.
“To make it easier for team members to access vaccinations we are providing up to six hours of paid leave for permanent team to attend appointments.
“It’s clear that one of the most important things we can all do to manage COVID-19 in the long run is to have as many people in the community vaccinated as possible and we’ll continue to support our team to come forward to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Cairns Regional Council
Cairns Regional Council chief executive Mica Martin said the organisation was supportive of employees who wished to have the jab.
“Council will not require staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19,” she said.
“We support staff who wish to be vaccinated through our paid, annual health check leave entitlement.”
James Cook University
A JCU spokesman confirmed that the organisation, “strongly encourages staff and students to be vaccinated, as recommended by governments, and on the advice of a health practitioner.”
“JCU Cairns and JCU Townsville staff and students who meet the eligibility criteria can make an appointment to have their vaccination on campus.” he said.
The spokesman said a public clinic, operated by the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS), opened on JCU’s Nguma-Bada campus in Smithfield in July.
To book an appointment, call 1800 861 863 or online.
Lotus Glen Correction Centre
A Queensland Corrective Services spokesman said that due to the particular risks of Covid-19 in correctional facilities, officers and prisoners were strongly advised to get the vaccination as soon as possible.
“Lotus Glen Correctional Centre was one of the first centres to vaccinate prisoners and officers, due to the particular vulnerabilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners in the centre,” he said.
“We have worked closely with Queensland Health to provide our officers access to vaccinations through a range of channels, including clinics with in the centre and access to priority vaccinations in the community.
“We strongly encourage all of our officers to get vaccinated at the first availability.
“We also encourage visitors to our centres to get vaccinated as soon as they can if they haven’t already done so, as vaccinations will play an important role in keeping our centres Covid-free and preventing future lockdowns.
“We are working closely with Queensland Health to ensure we are doing everything in our power to prevent Covid-19 getting into our centres.
“Any future decisions on vaccinations will be made after extensive consultation with Queensland Health, our workforce and the union”
Queensland Fire Emergency Services
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) spokesman said they were actively monitoring the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
He said the vaccine was required for certain activities, including volunteering and working at a vaccination hub or at hotel quarantine as well as working in specified remote communities.
“This is based on advice from Queensland Health,” he said.
“There is no Covid-19 vaccine mandate for the broader workforce, but QFES will continue to engage with Queensland Health to ensure the health and safety of staff, volunteers and the community is prioritised.”
Queensland Police
The Covid-19 vaccine has been mandated for the entire Queensland Police Service workforce, Commissioner Katarina Carroll confirmed early in September.
“The mandate is a key part of our planning for what may be a worst-case scenario when
restrictions ease and the country reopens,” she said.
All police officers and staff members will be required to have their first dose of a Covid-19
vaccine by October 4 and their second dose by January 23, 2022.
From October 5, employees who refuse to follow the direction will be suspended from duty with pay.
Ms Carroll said the intent of the mandate was to create a safer environment for the
QPS workforce and the community.
“The dynamic nature of policing means frontline officers interact with large volumes of people and move around to all corners of the state,” she said.
“It is important the Queensland community has confidence and feels safe when interacting with their police.
Rex Airlines
On 20 September, 2021, Rex announced all of the airline’s frontline, customer-facing staff would be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by November 1.
Rex said this would include company employees working at check-in and all pilots and cabin crew across its regional and domestic networks.
The airline said passengers on Rex flights can be reassured that the compulsory staff vaccination policy will mean that they will be travelling in the safest possible circumstances.
Rio Tinto
A spokesman for mining giant Rio Tinto, which has mines in Cape York, said the company supported government efforts to promote vaccination.
“We know vaccines play a critical role in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and encourage everyone who can to get the vaccine as soon as it’s available to them,” he said.
“There has been much discussion about Covid-19 vaccination and it remains an important personal choice.
“Government and industry will continue to assess the requirements for vaccination in the future.”
The spokesman said of the 1300 workers at Rio Tinto’s Weipa operations, which includes East Weipa, Andoom and Amrun bauxite mines, had a first vaccination dose rate of 64 per cent as of September 3.
“Rio Tinto employees and contractors who have been outside Queensland within the last 14 days are required to get an antigen test prior to returning to work,” the spokesman said.
“They are also required to follow all Queensland Government guidelines on wearing masks and social distancing where possible.”
Smithfield Shopping Centre
The manager of Smithfield Shopping Centre, John Cooper, said: “In line with the Australian Government’s vaccination program, we’re encouraging vaccinations and helping our people investigate their eligibility and get a vaccination when they can.”
Stockland Cairns shopping centre
A spokesman for Stockland Cairns at Earlville said all shopping centre staff were encouraged to get vaccinated.
“This includes offering support where leave is required to get vaccinated,” he said.
“We continue to work with and follow the health advice provided by relevant state health departments and communicate that advice to our retail employees, retailers and customers.”
The Woolshed and Cotton Club
Dominic Davies, the managing director of popular nightclub and bar Woolshed and Cotton Club, says he is happy with the way vaccines are rolling out.
“I have faith in our community, staff and patrons to follow the medical advice,” Mr Davies said. “I’m the father of five and my family is all fully vaccinated and we have encouraged our staff to get vaccinated and this is their own choice.
“We have just over 20 employees plus half dozen sub contractor with security and cleaners.”
Woolworths
A spokesman for supermarket giant Woolworths said all team members were strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
“Our immediate focus is ensuring our team members have access to vaccines, particularly those in frontline roles,” he said.
It is understood that the Woolworths Group provides up to eight hours of paid vaccination leave (taken as two instances of four hours) for frontline team members.
The Woolworths Group has administered more than 8500 jabs at government approved vaccine clinics operating at distribution centres in NSW, Queensland, and Victoria.
More Coverage
Originally published as Covid vaccine Cairns: Employers share their views on the jab
‘They did the backdoor entry’: Olympic protestors target Cairns
A minor party candidate has called out the “breadcrumbs” the region receives in infrastructure funding with southeast Queensland set to receive billions in the lead up to the Olympics.
‘Next phase’: Port Douglas Gran Fondo debuts new event
Port Douglas Gran Fondo is set to get bigger and better with the addition of a new running event, which will debut next year. Everything you need to know.